Summary: The trip to New Netherland in this sailing ship began in
Amsterdam (the Netherlands) on 25 Sep 1636. By November 7 the ship had
reached Spain, but because of high waves and unfavorable winds, they reversed
their course and set sail for England. They anchored November 16 at
Ilfracombe on the western shore. They remained there until January 9
when they set sail once again. They arrived at Manhatten (New Amsterdam)
on March 4. Although their destination was Fort Orange (later known as
Albany), they found that the Hudson River was impassable due to ice. On
March 26, they resumed their journey, arriving at Fort Orange on April 7. [Notes by Cliff Lamere]

Part I

Journal for Skipper Jan Tiepkesz Schellinger

In the year of Our Lord 1636, the 25th of September,
the boat called Rinsealaers Wijck
sailed in God's name from Amsterdam to Texel,
at about two o'clock in the afternoon.
God preserve Rinselaers Wijck!

1636September
Thursday, Sept 25
Sailed from Amsterdam and anchored before Durgerdam, a small village a short
distance from Amsterdam on the north side of the IJ, with a south wind and heavy
weather.

Sunday, Sept 28
Afternoon again set sail with a southwest wind and sailed to opposite Pampus,
the bay of the Zuiderzee into which the IJ flows, and anchored there.

Tuesday, Sept 30
Again set sail with a south wind and came near the south buoy of the Het Vlaak, (a
shoal in the Zuiderzee, southeast of the island of Wieringen).

October
Wednesday, Oct 1
The boat arrived at Texel and anchored in nine fathoms near the east end; the
wind southwest.

Wednesday, Oct 8The wind easterly followed by a calm.
Here lay some French traders, one Mediterranean Straits trader, two Pernambuco
traders and poor fleets. The Pernambuco and the Straits trader intended to go to
Ireland; so we arranged to sail together as far as Plymouth, England. We put to
sea in God's name, about four o'clock in the afternoon, about 22 vessels strong,
without convoy.

Thursday, Oct 9In the morning, the wind was still S.E.; the course as before,
S.W. with a stiff breeze.
At noon we saw the Flemish coast. At the same time, we saw two sails; one off
the Flemish coast sailing northward, the other off the English coast sailing
southward, but they did not approach us and remained unknown. In the evening
toward sunset, Dunkerque, France lay about five leagues southeast from us and a
west-southwest course was followed. (Note: a league is equal to three
nautical miles.) The wind was then about east; it became calmer in the
evening though we kept a steady breeze. As far as we could see, there lay some
12 to 15 ships in the Scheurtje, the channel between the Flemish coast and the
sand bank near Dunkerque. That day we distributed rations, one to each man.
During the night there was a strong wind from the east. Done once more.

Friday, Oct 10Course W. by S., the wind as before with a steady breeze.
In the morning, Beachy Head, England lay then north-northwest, four leagues away
from us. In the evening, Beachy Head lay eight leagues from us, east-northeast.The course W.S.W.1/2 west and encountered a stiff, steady wind
as before.
In the second quarter of the night, we saw a fleet coming in our direction, but
did not speak with them. Done.

Saturday, Oct 11The wind as before with rough weather.
In the morning, we saw the island of Alderney, France. It lay south by east,
about six leagues from us. There the Ireland trader left the fleet. She had 20
guns as she was going toward the Scilly Islands. She had promised us, if
convenient, to convoy us around the islands or past them. We followed her and
proceeded westward, as that was the most convenient course for continuing our
voyage. We left the fleet, and about noon, we saw a sail come from the coast. As
we were but two, we prepared as well as we could for action, when we were ready,
we waited for her with furled sails. When she was nearly within range of our
guns, she turned away before the wind. It was a large flute with a poop. There
was another ship behind us which we could barely see. She waited for it, but
when it came near, she let it pass. What kind of ships they were we do not know.
Start Point, Devonshire lay about west from us and we continued our course.
Done.

Sunday, Oct 12In the morning, we did not see land; the wind as before. At
noon, we estimated that we were then 18 leagues E.N.E. 1/3 E. from Lizard.The Ireland trader left us at noon and sailed northwest; we sailed west
by south. Done.

Monday, Oct 13Course W. by S., 32 leagues, wind E. by S., stiff topsail.
During the night a ship passed us going in the opposite direction. Done the past
day till noon.

Tuesday, Oct 14Course W. by S., 32 leagues, wind E.S.E., stiff topsail. In the
afternoon, we set our course toward the W.S.W., with a stiff topsail breeze.
In the morning, we were near a Frenchman, whom we chased while following our
course. It was a ship that came from the bank of Newfoundland. In the afternoon,
another one passed us to windward, without speaking. Done

Wednesday, Oct 15Course S.W. by W., 30 leagues, wind S.E., stiff topsail.
In the evening it began to drizzle. Done

Saturday, Oct 18Course S.W. by W., 58 leagues, wind S.E., various breezes. Upon
taking the latitude, we found the changes as above.

Sunday, Oct 19Course S.W. by W., 20 leagues, wind E., topsail. Done.

Monday, Oct 20Course S.W. by W., 45 leagues, fitful rough weather. Toward
evening, we had sailed eight leagues W.S.W. with very rough weather from the
N.N.W. During the evening it became quite calm, which lasted till daylight; then
the wind changed to the south. Done.

Tuesday, Oct 21
In the morning, the wind changed to the west. It blew so hard that the topsails
had to be taken in. The wind veered to the northwest. We had then sailed about
three leagues to the northwest. About nine o'clock, it blew so hard that we had
to take in all our sails and could not carry a single sail. An hour later, there
blew a violent gale from the northwest and we then drifted east with a very
rough sea. The waves rose to such an awful height that the waves and the sky
seemed one. The wind turned again to the west and so it lasted the entire night.
Done as far as the night is concerned.

Wednesday, Oct 22
In the morning it still blew so hard that we could not carry any sails, but the
sea was calmer. The wind came from the southwest. During the night, in the
second watch it grew less; we set our main sail, but toward dawn it had to be
taken in again on account of the strong wind, thunder and lightning. It blew
hard, the wind as above, we drifted east. Done till morning.

Thursday, Oct 23The wind about west and we drifted east with rough weather.
We drifted from about nine o'clock on the 21st to noon of the 23rd, by reckoning
23 leagues northeast by east. No latitude had been taken for the past three days
up to noon.

Friday, Oct 24Drifted E. by N. 10 leagues. The wind about west-northwest with
severe storm.
During the past day drifted without sail.

Saturday, Oct 25Drifted E.N.E. 12 leagues, with very rough weather.
Our mizzen blew away. The wind about west during the past day.

Sunday, Oct 26Drifted E. by S. 15 leagues, the wind about W. with rough
weather.
In the evening, we bent on our new mizzen. The day gone.

Monday, Oct 27Drifted E. by S. eight leagues; the wind from the N.W. with a
stiff main sail breeze.
We ran south with our two courses but could not sail closer than southeast by
south. The wind veered toward the west and we sailed till evening with the
courses, keeping our course south-southeast, seven leagues. The wind then rose
again from the southwest so that both the courses had to be taken in. It blew a
terrible gale and we drifted then southeast by east. The day gone.

Tuesday, Oct 28A gale still blew from the west and we still drifted southeast
by east. Drifted by reckoning 12 leagues.
That night the beak of our ship was knocked to pieces. The day gone.

Wednesday, Oct 29The wind as before but the weather fully as good. This day we
made the first good observation of latitude since the 20th.
We set our main sail, but it was not long before it had to be taken in again.
The wind veered to the southwest by west with rough weather, so that we were
obliged to let ourselves drift. The day gone.

Thursday, Oct 30In the morning the weather was fairly good, the wind about W.S.W.
That noon we again took a fairly good observation of latitude and ran that day
by drifting and sailing, keeping an E.S.E. course, 14 leagues.
Toward daybreak, we set both our courses and steered south by east, but the sea
became rough again so that we could only hold to a southeast course. We took our
sails in again on account of the strong wind, also because we could make no
headway by sailing on account of the rough sea. Awaited the right wind. The day
gone.

Friday, Oct 31Drifted by reckoning 10 leagues E.S.E. The wind about S.W. with
rough weather and high seas and an over cast sky so that we could not take the
latitude. From that noon till the morning of the first of November we drifted
eight leagues southeast by east. The wind about west, very high seas. The day
gone.

November
Saturday, Nov 1In the morning we veered toward the west and drifted north. The
wind S.W. with rough weather and high seas, the past half day and entire night.

Sunday, Nov 2Drifted 16 leagues N.E. by E.; the wind about west, with very
high seas.
That day the overhang above our rudder was knocked in by severe storm. This day
a child was born on the ship, and named Storm, (Albertsz Van der Zee) the
mother is Annetie Barents. The day gone.

Monday, Nov 3The wind about W.S.W. During that day we made 12 leagues,
drifting and sailing and keeping a N.E. by N. course.
In the morning, the weather was fairly good. We set our courses and proceeded in
a northerly direction. That evening the sails had to be taken in again on
account of a strong wind from the west. The day gone.

Tuesday, Nov 4We had drifted by reckoning N.E. by E. six leagues. The wind
about west and toward evening the wind turned to the south with terribly high
seas but the wind moderated. The day gone.

Wednesday, Nov 5Drifted by dead reckoning N. by E. nine leagues, the wind about
west. This day it has been about southwest with fairly good weather. The day
gone.

Thursday, Nov 6In the morning, the wind and weather were as above. At noon,
with two courses, we proceeded toward the N.N.E.
Seeing little hope of getting better wind and weather soon - though God knows -
having few provisions for 52 or 53 souls, the number on board to keep dry, we
could oppose it no longer. In the first place, on account of the sick people
whose number increased daily because of their hardships and, in the second
place, because we feared that it might last a long time yet. As we had already
passed Cape Finisterre, Spain, to the north of it, in great peril and were
drifting into the bay, I knew nothing better to do than to hold a council with
the supercargo, the mate and other advisors, to decide what had best be done in
the matter. We concluded in the said council to put the helm hard up and to
steer in God's name toward the English Channel and try to get into Falmouth or
Plymouth, which was done. The day gone.

Friday, Nov 7Course N.E. by N., 23 leagues, The wind about west.
Last night we drifted for six hours without sail on account of the terrible wind
and high seas. During the day watch, it was a little better and we set our
courses. The day gone.

Saturday, Nov 8Course N.N.E., 31 leagues. The wind about west with a stiff
topsail breeze, though most of the time we sailed with two courses.
This afternoon we sailed with two topsails and during the night again with two
courses. In the forenoon, with one topsail over the ocean. The day gone.

Sunday, Nov 9Course N.N.E., 31 leagues, the wind about W.
The past night we sailed with one course, and this day with two topsails and
spritsail. We sailed then northeast. During the day watch, the wind changed to
the east-northeast, varying in strength with calm and gentle breezes. Toward
evening the wind changed to south-southeast, and we set our course
east-northeast. The day gone.

Monday, Nov 10Course N.E., 18 leagues, with varying winds.
Toward evening, the wind became west changing to a stiff breeze. During the
night it blew so hard that we ran before the wind with a foresail. Toward
evening it was somewhat better. The day gone.

Tuesday, Nov 11Course E., 20 leagues. The wind was about S.W. and during the
night we took the latitude by the stars.The sky was overcast and weather uncertain. The day gone.

Wednesday, Nov 12Course E., 16 leagues. The wind about west and the weather
rough.
In the evening we sounded and found bottom at 85 fathoms. We then sailed
northeast till the first watch was over. We judged that we were near Ushant
Island, Finistere, France. We sounded again and found the same depth, good
Channel ground. We thought that we were in but it began to blow very hard. In
the morning there was such gale that our sails had to be taken in. Till morning.

Thursday, Nov 13
In the morning the wind was south with very rough weather. We did not yet see
land. We set our mainsail with great difficulty, but took in our foresail and
then sailed east-southeast. During the night in the second watch, we saw land
south of us. It was very bad weather; we could not see for the rain, thunder and
lightning. We ran before the wind and according to our reckoning it must be the
Scilly Islands, as we later found it to be. We then sailed northwest with one
lower sail. Toward daybreak the weather became a little better and in the day
watch, we turned toward the land to reconnoiter. The wind changed to the
south-southeast. Till morning.

Friday, Nov 14
In the morning, the wind was as above so that we could not make the land we had
seen during the night. We noticed however the Seven Stones, which indicated
sufficiently where we were. They were to starboard, about a league off. The wind
began to get stronger again. We looked for a good roadstead and thought it
advisable to run behind Cape Cornwall, so as to get into the small bay or haven
which is there. When we got around the cape, the wind changed to the east and
northeast then north and finally to the northwest, with terribly rough weather
so that we could hardly carry half a mainsail. We got aground near the cape and
at twilight our foresail blew away, for we were obliged to carry all the sail we
could; and our main sheet broke and we let ourselves be driven to the north with
one sail. In the second watch, the mainsail had to be taken in too, for it was
no longer possible to carry any sail, as one thing or another would break and we
were driven east-northeast. Till morning.

Saturday, Nov 15
In the morning, the land lay close under our lee and we drifted toward it. We
concluded to set our foresail and, as we could not keep away from the shore, to
run in near the land during the day, thinking that we might make a port there
called Padstow Haven, or else Stratton. When we came near the shore, we were too
far down. We were driven by the strong current so that with our foresail only we
were carried along the shore, trying to find some place where the ship and
people would be safe. As it became late in the day, we decided that we could do
no better than to run to an anchorage or land which we saw. Which according to
the description of the book must be a harbor, and concluded, if possible, to run
in or else to beach the ship, on account of the strong current and the severe
west-northwest storm and the fact that we were in a bay. Commending ourselves to
God, we ran toward it with reefed foresail. When we came close to the shore, the
weather seemed to calm down and clear up a little, for it had been very dark
before. We saw Lundy Island and hastily turned so as to sail on the wind, tacked
and carried all the sail we could. We again raised our main topmast, which had
not been up in eight or ten days, and set both the topsails. It seemed as if we
would capsize or all our sails blow away. We headed for a point above the cape
called Hartland Point. During the night we came with God's help, to anchor under
the lee of Lundy in 20 fathoms with a west-northwest wind. Till morning.

Sunday, Nov 16In the morning the wind was as above.
We weighed anchor and set sail for a harbor called Ilfracombe, about four
leagues from the island. On our way we saw a ship without mast drift by. Coming
near the harbor, a pilot came on board and brought us in. We found two Dutch
ships lying there. One came from Spain with salt, and the other came from the
West Indies; they also were driven from their course by the storm. The ship
which came from Spain was in Ireland, or near Cape Clear among the cliffs, and
thought from its course and reckoning that it was among the Scilly Islands and
happened to get here. Neither did the other, which was among the islands, know
where it was and it came here also toward evening. Till morning.

Monday, Nov 17
The wind as above with rain and strong wind storm, so that we could not do
anything to repair the ship, but only supply the people with some fresh
provisions. Some families went on land.

Tuesday, Nov 18
Wind and weather as above. Dirck Corssen Stam, supercargo of the vessel,
went to Plymouth.

Wednesday, Nov 19Wind and weather as above.

Thursday, Nov 20As above.

Friday, Nov 21Wind was east with rough weather.

Saturday, Nov 22The wind west with bad weather.

Sunday, Nov 23As above.

Monday, Nov 24
I went to Barnstable where two English vessels lay, to arrange to sail in
company with them.

Tuesday, Nov 25Wind and weather as above.

Wednesday, Nov 26
Thursday, Nov 27
Friday, Nov 28As above.

Saturday, Nov 29Dirck Corssen came back from Plymouth.

Sunday, Nov 30Wind and weather as above.

December
Monday, Dec 1Abatement of weather and wind.

Tuesday, Dec 2The wind was S.E. with a stiff gale and dark weather.

Wednesday, Dec 3
The two ships set sail from here with two Newfoundland traders. Wind east.

Monday, Dec 8The wind as above.
In the evening, some of our passengers had gone on land to sit and drink in the
tavern. Where we were sitting with an English merchant to sell our goods, there
were two there, of whom one struck the other to the ground, named Cornelis
Thomasz the smith, and the offender was his helper, Hans van Sevenhuysen,
and.............(sentence not finished in the original).

Tuesday, Dec 9
It was a day of prayer here for the whole neighborhood on account of the severe
sickness which God is sending them. The wounded man died this morning and was
buried in the afternoon.

Wednesday, Dec 10The wind and weather as above. We began to get our hold ready.

Wednesday, Dec 17The Wind and weather as above.As the matters relating to the accident had not yet been cleared up, they
took the rudder from our ship and brought it on land, on account of the crime.

Thursday, Dec 18The weather was changeable, but not of the best.

Friday, Dec 19
Saturday, Dec 20
Sunday, Dec 21As Above.

Monday, Dec 22
The body was dug up again and the wound viewed by the criminal and the coroner,
or schout.

Tuesday, Dec 23
They carried the offender away in the name of the king and let us fetch our
rudder from land again and go free.

Wednesday, Dec 24A severe storm blew from the W.S.W.

Thursday, Dec 25The weather was fair and the wind as above.

Friday, Dec 26As above.

Saturday, Dec 27Wind as above.Dirck Coersen came from Barnstable and said that a Dutch ship had
come to Appledore, in Devonshire and that another lying under the lee of Lundy
had been anchored there for five days. They came from La Rochelle, France, and
had set sail with us. Some other ships had been with them in this bay, but he
did not know what had become of them on account of the bad weather.

Friday, Jan 9
At three o'clock before daybreak, we set sail in God's name and in the morning
we were at the northwest point of Lundy Island. The wind southeast with steady
weather. We sailed then west-southwest by west.

Saturday, Jan 10
At noon, Cape Cornwall lay south of us; we were about 10 leagues from land.
Calms and fitful breezes. We went over to the Irish coast. That day and night
and toward daybreak, the wind turned to the south-southeast, with a stiff
mainsail breeze. We sailed then southwest and about an hour later the wind
changed to the west and at once blew so hard that we could carry only on lower
sail. We sailed south.

Sunday, Jan 11
About noon, we could not carry any sail on account of the wind. We still
sailed south and drifted east by south, toward the coast. During the night we
had a severe storm.

Monday, Jan 12
In the morning we did not see land, which surprised us, for the whole day we
had not realized that the current was carrying us farther from shore than we
reckoned. Toward evening with great difficulty, we lowered our main topmast on
account of the severe storm and steered toward the north, sailing
north-northeast because of the night at hand. It was dark weather toward
evening and this lasted all night.

Tuesday, Jan 13In the morning we cast the lead and struck good Channel ground
at about 65 fathoms. We assumed then that we were south of the Scilly Islands
and set our course southwest by west. Till noon.

Wednesday, Jan 14Course S.W. by W., 12 leagues. The wind fitful with beautiful
weather. In the first watch, the wind changed to the northwest blowing a
topsail breeze and we sailed southwest. The day gone.

Friday, Jan 16Course S.W. by S., 26 leagues.
Winds mostly from the west with beautiful weather. This day we bent our new
mainsail with both the topsails and sailed south-southeast, with lower sails
set. The day gone.

Saturday, Jan 17Course W. by N. 1/2 N., 6 1/2 leagues; the wind about south
with a stiff gale and during the night the wind changed to the S.E. We sailed
then with steady weather. The day gone.

Sunday, Jan 18Course W.S.W., 11 1/2 leagues, the wind fitful with calms but
mostly S.E. with drizzling rain till midnight. the wind then changed to the
N.E. The day gone.

Thursday, Jan 22Course S. by W., 33 leagues; the wind about north, with steady
breeze and clear weather.
This day we made two more gun carriages and mounted a gun, so that we now had
four on deck. We could for the present not put any more on deck. The day gone.

Saturday, Jan 24
In the morning we saw a sail to starboard under our lee. The wind was
northeast and we sailed south. He made sail toward us. We kept our course and
cleared away the chests and cows so that we obtained a clear deck, which took
us till shortly after noon. When we were ready, we waited for him with furled
sails and when he came near us we hailed him. He answered that he came from La
Rochelle, France, and was looking for good booty. We said that we were also
looking for a good prize. He remained near us for about an hour and then
headed for the west when each of us fired a salute. He had four iron and two
metal cannon on board. This morning we saw Porto Santo, an island of the
Madeira group, which lay southwest from us. We had fine weather and in the
evening we got near the west side of Porto Santo. We ran then southwest by
south until the second watch, with a gentle breeze. We then took in the
foresail and waited for the day. The day gone.

Sunday, Jan 25
In the morning about an hour after sunrise, we were between Porto Santo and
Madeira. About two o'clock in the afternoon we got a steady breeze from the
W.S.W. and ran S. In the evening, the S.W. point of Madeira lay 12 leagues
N.N.W. from us. From there we sailed W.S.W. with rough weather and lower
sails. The wind about north with high seas.
This night about three o'clock, a child Marie was born; the father is Johannes
La Montague and the mother Rachel. The day gone.

Monday, Jan 26Course W.S.W., 30 leagues; the wind about north with rough
weather and high seas. The day gone.

Tuesday, Jan 27Course W.S.W., 45 leagues; the wind about N.E., with rough
weather and high seas. Carried two lower sails and had clear weather. The day
gone.

Wednesday, Jan 28Course W.S.W., 45 leagues; the wind about N.E., with
continuous rough weather and high seas. Carried the foresail and one topsail.
The day gone.

Thursday, Jan 29
Course W.S.W., 43 leagues; the wind about north, steady breeze most of the
time. The day gone.

Friday, Jan 30Course S.W. by W., 36 leagues; the wind about north, mostly
stiff topsail gale.
About two o'clock in the night a boy was born; Hendrick Cornelisz, (the
father Cornelis Maesen), the mother Catelijntie Martens. The day
gone.

Saturday, Jan 31Course W.S.W., 47 leagues; the wind about northeast, mostly
stiff topsail breeze with clear weather. Took the azimuth of the sun;
variation of the compass. The day gone.

Wednesday, Feb 11Course W. 1/2 N., 38 leagues; wind N. with stiff topsail gale.This noon we changed our course and then sailed northwest by west. The
wind as before with lower sails. In the afternoon there was a severe storm
with thunder, lightning and rain; so that we took off our sails, but toward
the end of the second watch it became somewhat better. We set both our lower
sails, the fore-topsail and mizzensail and then sailed about northwest. The
wind north-northeast. The day gone.

Saturday, Feb 14Course N.W. 1/2 N., 37 leagues, Wind about N.N.E., variation
of the compass. During the day we sailed 37 leagues; a steady topsail breeze.
We took the sun's azimuth at its setting and found a variation of the needle,
54 min N.W.The weather was fine and we then sailed fully northwest by north.

Sunday, Feb 15Course N.N.W., 26 leagues; wind N.N.E., steady breeze. We had
then sailed 26 leagues N.N.W., the wind N.N.E. with fine weather. In the
evening it became calm.

Monday, Feb 16Course N.W. by N., 20 leagues, wind about N.N.E. We had sailed
N.W. by N. 20 leagues and on taking the sun's azimuth at its setting we found
the variation to be 6 deg. 40 min. N.E. The day gone.

Tuesday, Feb 17Course N.W. by N., 26 leagues. The wind southerly, high swells
from the N.W. with fine weather at noon, the wind fitful and changed soon to
the west, weather unsettled.
We had much rain, thunder and lightning. In the afternoon we took off the
ship's bonnets, veered about, and went about southwest.

Sunday, Feb 22Course N.N.W. 1/3 W., 36 leagues, wind S.S.E. steady breeze.
In the afternoon and the early part of the night, we had a stiff breeze from
the east; we changed our course and went north. The day gone.

Tuesday, February 24Course N. by W., 35 leagues. Rough weather.Left the weeds. We had dark weather with much rain. About noon, there
was a water spout behind our ship, which drew the water like smoke to such a
terrible height, that we were afraid of it. We took in all our sails, but it
was soon over and passed behind us at close range, without hurting us. The day
gone.

Wednesday, Feb 25Course N.W. by N., 22 leagues, wind E.N.E. stiff breeze.
During the day, we had much change of wind and terrible thunder, lightning and
rain. Toward evening there was a gentle breeze. After supper, we cast the lead
and found at 50 fathoms, small black stones and also small red ones, some as
large as shot, together with grayish sand, about 10 miles from land. We went
then north-northwest, the wind northeast with a gentle breeze. When the first
watch was over, we sounded again and struck sand at 18 fathoms. At four bells
in the second watch, we found sand at 12 fathoms, the depth having become
steadily less up to this point. We then took in our topsail and turned to the
southeast, the wind being east-northeast. We sailed for four glasses (two
hours) or till we had 17 fathoms; then we turned and sailed north, and set our
topsails to a gentle breeze.

Thursday, Feb 26Course N.W. by N., 10 leagues. The wind fitful with calms.
In the forenoon, we found most of the time 20, 19, or 18, but also 17 and 15
fathoms, but not long after we saw land, the depth ranging from 15 to 20
fathoms. We did not know where we were for it was foggy weather. We supposed
that there might be a bank, as the southern colonies of the English were quite
near, and as we had had in the afternoon the above course. We were about three
miles from land and found 14 fathoms of water, with foggy weather, so that we
could not tell much about the land. At about three o'clock in the afternoon,
Smith's Island lay about three leagues west-northwest from us. Seen from there
the island looks as follows: the upper part is hard to recognize, the north
point is indented, and it seems as if a small flat island lay at the south
point.

Saturday, Feb 28Course N. by E., 20 leagues, wind S.W with a gentle breeze.
During the past night we had a steady breeze from the southwest, with rain,
thunder and lightning. We had showers, as if we were near land. By reckoning,
we were 6 leagues from land, north-northeast of Cape Henlopen. We found 22
fathoms of water and ran close to northward. We sounded often and found
sometimes 22, but also 20, 18, 17, 15 and then again 22 fathoms. We saw many
whales. We then sailed mostly northwest, the whole night long with many calms.
That night we saw many fires burning.

March
Sunday, March 1
In the morning, we were about two leagues from land and in 16 fathoms,
southwest from the north point of the Barnegat Inlet, Bloommaert's Point being
north of us. We saw many whales, some 10 or 20 swimming for at least two hours
about our ship; we supposed that they were taking their course from the south
to the north. At about six o'clock in the evening at sunset, we came to anchor
behind Godyn's Point (Sandy Hook), in five fathoms, good anchorage. God be
praised for His mercy.

Monday, March 2
In the morning the wind was northwest with rough weather so that we could not
make the headlands. Our boat landed at Godyn's Point for the purpose of
shooting geese and stayed over night there. It was bitterly cold.

Tuesday, March 3
At noon, the weather was somewhat better as far as the wind was concerned,
though it was northwest and very cold. Our boat returned and we could not do
anything else.

Wednesday, March 4
The wind as above with a gentle breeze. We weighed our anchor and arrived at
four o'clock in the afternoon at the Manhattans, where we found an English
vessel. God be praised for our safe voyage thus far. As we learned here that
the river was still closed up above and we remained here.

Thursday, March 5As above, the wind west.

Friday, March 6The wind east.

Saturday, March 7
We began to clear our hold and brought our empty water casks on land.

Sunday, March 8The wind northwest.
Two of the children born on our ship were baptized here. (Marie La Montague
and Hendrick Cornelisz Maesen baptized here; Storm Van der Zee was baptized in
England)

Monday, March 9
Tuesday, March 10As above.

Wednesday, March 11As above. Wind south.

Thursday, March 12As above.

Friday, March 13The wind north with storm.

Saturday, March 14
The wind south with snow.

Sunday, March 15The wind S.
In the evening, Claes Raemaaecker came out into the bay and also near
Nut Island (Governor's Island); during the night, Dirck Corssen Stam,
supercargo of the vessel, sailed up the river.

Monday March 16The wind S. with fair weather.Claes came on board. This day we fetched some goods from land.

Tuesday, March 17
In the afternoon, the wind was about west with rough weather.

Wednesday, March 18As above.

Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20As above.

Saturday, March 21
I brought most of the merchandise on land into a house and left the mate, Hendrick
de Forest, in charge, with orders to sell it. With the consent of the
director, we got ready to sail up the river with the ship.

Sunday, March 22
The widow of Cornelis Thomasz, the smith who died in England, was
married here at the Manhattans to Arent Steffeniersz.

Monday, March 23The wind about north.

Tuesday, March 24Peter Cornelisz (van Monnickendam) went up the river in a yacht. The
weather calm.

Wednesday, March 25The wind N.E., rain and rough weather.

Thursday, March 26
We sailed up the river in the ship with calm weather. In the evening, we came
to anchor near Sapokaniean (Greenwich Village).

Friday, March 27
In the morning we set sail again with calm weather and very light northerly
breeze. At about nine o'clock at night, we anchored on account of the
darkness. We had sailed about eight leagues.

Saturday, March 28
In the morning, we set sail and came to the Highlands. The tide went out and
the wind was contrary, so that we anchored there about four o'clock in the
afternoon.

Sunday, March 29
In the morning, Dirck Coerssen came down in the yacht and boarded our
ship again; the yacht sailed on with a north wind.

Monday, March 30The wind as above with rough weather.

Tuesday, March 31
In the morning, the wind was about southwest with fair weather. We got under
sail and came to the Esopus. In the evening, the wind changed to the north and
blew hard.

April
Wednesday, April 1
As above.

Thursday, April 2
In the morning, the wind turned to the south and we set sail. We came to
anchor about a mile above Catskill. The wind was then about east.

Friday, April 3
In the morning the wind was about south with a drizzling rain. We set sail and
in the evening came to anchor about half a mile below Barren Island, on
account of calms and contrary wind.

Saturday, April 4
As above.

Sunday, April 5
As above.

Monday, April 6
In the evening the wind changed to the south. We set sail but were becalmed.
Getting a fair breeze during the night, we sailed on.

Tuesday, April 7
About three o'clock in the morning, we came to anchor before Fort Orange, the
end of our voyage upward.